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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: rash · temple · stem · fall · branch · net · jam · dip

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. rash — hasty
  5. branch — a division
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. fall — the season
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. fall — to drop
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. dip — to sink
  13. net — after costs
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. rash — a series
  20. net — in sport
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. stem — to come from
  23. fall — to drop
  24. branch — of a tree

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com